The National Archives and Regional Centers

by Genealogy.com

In addition to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., there are several Regional Archive Centers located in various cities around the country. The regional centers all have United States census data and a variety of other research materials. There is no inter-center loan, so you must go to the regional center that has the records that you need to search. If you have a very specific request, you may be able to get a photocopy of the record instead. In addition, the National Archives has a microfilm rental program for census records.

In addition to microfilm reading rooms and limited research assistance, many regional centers offer a variety of services, including genealogy workshops, exhibits, films, and group tours. Select one of the topics below to get addresses and more complete information about the National Archives in Washington D.C. or one of the regional centers. You can also visit their Web site for more information.

National Archives -- Washington, D.C.

The National Archives holds historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, architectural drawings, video and sound recordings, and textual records relating to United States history; including subjects such as the expansion of the United States, wars and military history, Native Americans, slavery, the judicial system, immigration, and the activities of government agencies. The most heavily used records are on microfilm. These include U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records; passenger arrival lists; and naturalization records after September 1906.

National Archives -- Alaska Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Alaska. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 9,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1780's to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as forestry, Native American history, land and resource management, weather, shipping, and transportation. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records; various passenger arrival lists; Native American records; Freedmen's Bureau records; and naturalization records.

National Archives -- Central Plains Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 35,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as frontier history, American Indians, and local court cases. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records, pensions and bounty land warrant applications; Freedmen's Bureau records; and Native American records.

National Archives -- Great Lakes Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. This branch of the National Archives holds approximately 62,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1780's to the present. Their original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as American Indians, agriculture, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are United States population censuses for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; Indian censuses from 1885-1940; various passenger lists and indexes to passenger lists; military records from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Patriot War of 1838, the Mexican War, as well as records of volunteer soldiers for the Civil War, The War with Spain, and the Indian Wars.

National Archives -- Mid-Atlantic Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 40,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as Chinese-Americans, life in the United States, the National Parks, and the Merchant Marine. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records, pensions and bounty land warrant applications; naturalization records from Federal courts in the region; passenger arrival lists from Philadelphia and Baltimore; as well as documents related to pre-Federal and early Federal history; military history; and U.S. diplomacy.

National Archives -- Northeast Region (Boston)

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This branch of the National Archives holds historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the 1970s. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as natural resources, local court records, and engineering. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records, pensions, and bounty land warrant applications, especially from the Revolutionary War and for volunteer soldiers in the War of 1812; naturalization records for selected courts; and a variety of passenger arrival lists.

National Archives -- Northeast Region (New York)

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 9,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as regional court records, U.S. customs records, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records; passenger arrival lists for 1820-1847 and 1897-1948; naturalization records for 1792-1906; concentration camp records; and New York City directories.

National Archives -- Pacific Northwest Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 28,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as Native Americans of the area, regional court records, fishing, and the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; censuses of Native Americans; naturalization records for selected courts; and various military service records.

National Archives -- Pacific Sierra Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Northern California, Hawaii, Nevada (except Clark County), the Pacific Trust Territories, and American Samoa. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 40,000 cubic feet of original historical records dating from 1850 to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as gold mining, Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, and regional court records, including naturalizations. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; Native American and Samoan censuses; and various military service records, and pension and bounty land warrant applications.

National Archives -- Pacific Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Arizona, Southern California, and Clark County, Nevada.This branch of the National Archives holds more than 20,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as Native Americans of the Southwest, ports and naval bases on the Pacific coast, smuggling, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; various military service records; various passenger arrival lists; Native American records; Freedmen's Bureau records; and naturalization records.

National Archives -- Pittsfield Region

This branch of the National Archives holds approximately 60,000 microfilm rolls. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service, pension, and bounty land records and indexes; selected naturalization records for New England, passenger arrival lists for selected ports, including Boston, New York, and Philadelphia; various Native American census records; and selected African-American records, including indexes to deposit ledgers in branches of the Freeman's Savings and Trust Co., 1865-1874.

National Archives -- Rocky Mountain Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and a portion of New Mexico. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 20,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records consist mainly of local court records. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records, pensions, and bounty land warrant applications; IRS assessment lists; an extensive collection of Native American censuses; and various passenger arrival lists.

National Archives -- Southeast Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 65,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as regional court records and World War I Draft Registration Cards. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records, especially those related to the Civil War; passenger arrival lists for Southern and Gulf Ports; and various Native American censuses.

National Archives -- Southwest Region

In addition to selected national microfilm records, this branch includes original regional records from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and a portion of New Mexico. This branch of the National Archives holds more than 65,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. The original records include photographs, maps, and architectural drawings relating to regional history, and include subjects such as homesteading, Native American history, mining, and regional court records. Among their national records on microfilm are U.S. census records for all states from 1790-1920, excluding 1890; census records indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920; military service records, pensions, and bounty land warrant applications; IRS assessment lists; an extensive collection of Native American censuses; and various passenger arrival lists.